A businessman had the barrel of a gun rammed in his mouth and was repeatedly punched after a deal went sour, it has been alleged.

Carl Boyd, 40, was tricked into going into an office by his friend and business partner, Evanglos Triandafilou, where he was then attacked by two other men.

The violence followed Boyd buying Brewster Street Garages in Bootle from Triandafilou, with whom he had been a close friend and was even best man at his wedding, claimed Jason Smith, prosecuting.

During the 40 minute attack on December 15 last year (2008) in the garage office, allegedly by 42-year-old Derek Woodford and Louis Cuddy, 33, Mr Boyd was struck with fists and the gun and thought he was going to be killed. 

It became apparent to him that Triandafilou, from whom he had bought the garage and who sat watching his ordeal, was trying to sell it and Mr Boyd was repeatedly asked for a settlement figure for the business.

He told them that he had borrowed £100,000 from his friend Terry Riley to help finance the purchase but his attackers maintained they were taking the business, claimed Mr Smith.

Mr Boyd contacted police five days after the incident and made a full statement in January. The same month Riley's business partner, John Ball, spoke to Mr Boyd after hearing that the garage was boarded up.

A meeting was consequently arranged between Mr Ball and Mr Riley and the three defendants, who turned up for it at Shorrocks Hill Country Club in Formby in Triandafilou's Bentley, alleged Mr Smith.

Cuddy immediately started threatening Mr Riley and showed the handle of a gun concealed in his trousers. The meeting was "conducted by threat and menace and they clearly demanded money," he alleged.

The incident involving Mr Boyd was discussed and Trianafilou allegedly said that he had had no option as Cuddy and Woodford had a financial interest in him.

Trianafilou, 32, of Granville Road, Southport, Woodford, of Linden Avenue, Bootle, and Cuddy, of no fixed address, all deny blackmail, false imprisonment, inflicting grievous bodily harm, possessing an imitation firearm and assault.

Cuddy also denies with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The case continues.

By Lynda Roughley